Buenos Aires Grill

Poor Business Practices.

by woodie309

November 23, 2007

Reservations were made at the Buenos Aires grill on Virginia Ave in Seattle for 5PM on Thanksgiving, 2007. We asked for sure that they would be open, and were told YES, by all means. We originally made the reservation for 2 at 5 PM on Thanksgiving day, for my oldest son and I. I talked with my youngest son shortly after and was told his plans may change, and he may want to join us for dinner. We Called the restaurant a SECOND time, to change the reservation for 3 people, double checking that they were in fact open on Thanksgiving, as so many restaurants are closed, and were told again, by another person "by all means, we are open" so we had our Thanksgiving Dinner out all planned... until we drove all the way to downtown Seattle, went to the Restaurant and found it dark and locked up. We waited until well after our reservation time and nothing. They said they would open as usual at 5PM and at 5:!5 they were still dark and locked up, with no one inside. We had to try to find a place to eat at 5PM on Thanksgiving day becuase of their poor business practice and customer Service. Or did they just LIE to us? OH. the address in their advertizing is wrong also, they are at 220 Virginia Ave. not 2000, or 2200 or 2028 depending on what website you look at.

• Cons: The make reservations when they are closed for business..

Write comment on this review

The true Buenos Aires expericence

by deb09

April 14, 2009

When I walk into the Buenos Aires Grill, I am greeted by this crazy delicious aroma of grilled meat and the din of people chatting, a relaxed and always friendly community of regulars who cannot stay away, and the newly discovered who are always welcomed.

Immediately I think of the wine I will have with my grilled steak. Never have I had a steak like this.

Often before I move or take another step I am greeted by the Manager, Latin, welcoming smile, and little bravado, a consummate professional.

Since they opened 6 or so years ago, my husband and I have been going to this get away, this little piece of Buenos Aires,

It is not just the tango dancers who glide around the dining room, or the music that has everyone swaying, or the great food, and yet it has to be all of those things, but one of the most important things to us is the manager and how he and his staff responds to his guests. It is the professional service amidst the friendly banter they all share with the diners, old and new- that is really what surprises me each time. Everyone is made to feel welcome and know that their dining experience will be excellent. Our evening is in good hands.

We sit back and do as we would in Buenos Aires, where time quickly slips away while great food and conversation is happening all around us, and take it all in- and we do.

• Pros: Delicious grilled fare, great company, wonderful staff
• Cons: I can never decide what great entree to have, yup really :)

Write comment on this review

Great food - great service - our new fave

by ShariJB

April 12, 2009

I owe Buenos Aires and its manager Alberto overdue kudos. In October we had my Mom's 72nd birthday dinner there. The food was great, they were very accomodating, and we had a fun night. My Mom died in January and we held her Celebration of Life at Buenos Aires. Alberto was again extremely accomodating - they opened early for our event and came up with a menu of fabulous food that was within our budget. We have been back several times for dinner or just drinks and appetizers (Jackie in the bar is great, too). Our kids love the fries and the tango dancers. This has become our favorite place for an evening out.

• Pros: Incredible steaks and veggies / nice feel
• Cons: We eat too much here!

Write comment on this review

Horrible service

Contributor

March 22, 2009

My friend made reservations for 6 to celebrate a friends birthday party. The owner (Alberto) was very nice and friendly when we arrived. After awhile we started to feel tension between him and our table. When we asked for napkins or utinsils for our other friends he did it like he was being forced. Since we had patiently waited for our food for over and hour we decided to nicely ask how much longer it was going to take, his answer was, "thats your problem not mine." He was incredibly rude. We decided to take off. We were waiting by the exit to pay for our drinks and the owner had the nerve to say "whats going on why are you guys leaving?" , he didn't apologize or anything.The birthday boy answered, "we don't deserve to be treated this way." The owner rudly yelled at us saying we better pay for our drinks. We paid and left. We didn't even see our food and will never go back. I really wish we would have had a better experience. If Alberto is the owner he is incredibly rude and impolite and doesn't give any personality to the restaurant.

• Pros: good bread, tango dancers great
• Cons: rude owner, wait too long for food and service

Write comment on this review

How Sad

by Helcat5

February 15, 2009

This used to be my favorite steakhouse in Seattle. We haven't been there in a while-but we have referred others. We finally went and WOW what a disappointment. The service was awful, how can you have servers, busboys, managers, hostesses and who knows who else on the floor and you have to beg for the simple things like napkins, bread and water. The meat was bland, the meal was poorly timed, and the salad, which used to be my favorite side was the worst. It is so sad when restaurants cheap-out lower their quality, and poorly train their staff. The table next to us never even got their dinner! And on the other side they sat staring at empty glasses and their empty appetizer plate for over 1/2 hour! I doubt I will ever go back there-yes the atmosphere hasn't changed and it still has a great vibe but with too many other steakhouses downtown to choose from with much better service and food why bother wasting your night.

• Pros: Great decor and tango dancing
• Cons: THE FOOD and THE SERVICE

Write comment on this review

Slow Service and Over Cooked Steak & Veggies

by Justin160

January 19, 2009

Buenos Aires Experience Cliff Notes:

- I asked for a soda refill and it took 35 minutes

- I asked for a Medium Rare New York Streak and got Medium Well

- The cooked vegatables were over cooked

- My steak had been sitting for a few minutes because it was cool before I recieved it

- The steak was very fatty and was low grade "nebraska corn fed USA choice" at best.

- The server took 12 minutes to comeback to the table, after he dropped off our food, to see how we were doing.

- I recieved 1 soda refill during the 2 hours and 45 minutes I was there.

Write comment on this review

a wonderful experience

by tgnightkid

April 20, 2008

i dont really tend to write any reviews, but i sure do read them all the time. I always like trying out new restaraunts. I can honestly say that my exeperience at buenos aires grill was exceptional from start to finish. I had a large party of 20 people for my birthday and they were very pleasant to deal with and the staff was very curteous and prompt and the food was really something else. I have been there before and everything was great but i kinda expected with such a large party that we may run into difficulties but everything went very smooth. Everyone enjoyed the food and we all had a great time. By the way about half the people ordered the filet but i had the skirt steak and it was very good.

• Pros: everything

Write comment on this review

Perfect dining experience!

by minawirth

April 18, 2008

The most delicious steaks my family has ever had! My daughter had the ravioli and that was divine, too. The service could not have been friendlier or more efficient. This was a perfect dining experience. Can't wait to go back with friends!

• Pros: delicious food, excellent service, comfortable atmosphere
• Cons: very limited street parking

Write comment on this review

Beware the trolls

by basiji

April 15, 2008

I've been going to this restaurant for several years and the food has been consistently good to great. Service can vary, but the overall experience has been good enough that I don't hesitate to bring guests, which is usually my acid-test. Prices have gone up over time but the portions are very ample. If you've never had it before, screw up your courage and try the morcilla (blutwurst) or better yet the molleja (grilled sweetbreads-thymus, actually) for a real appetizer treat.

Beware, there was a bitter ownership split a few years back and it appears that each side is writing either over-the-top positive reviews or bitter negative ones on citysearch. Check out the profiles of the reviewers and you'll find that most have "reviewed" nothing else...A sure sign they're bogus.

Write comment on this review

Our new favorite Steakhouse!

by Hawaiian808

April 07, 2008

I've heard such great things about Buenos Aires Grill and until now have not had the opportunity to experience this amazing restaurant. I love trying out new places to eat and this is now one of my favorites. We were greeted by a friendly hostess and were seated right away. We did make reservations of course, as from what we heard this is a very up and coming spot. The customer service was great. Our waitress was very attentive and had great suggestions on the wine. We started off with the calamari as an appetizer then to the filet minon which was absolutely PERFECT! The mustard sauce is to die for! The tango dancers were very entertaining especially when they got up and danced on the bar! This restaurant is the perfect spot for a night on the town, dinner with friends or family, or a romantic date with your significant other.

• Pros: Everything!

Write comment on this review

Great Restaurant! Now one of our Faves!

by pilot57

March 25, 2008

Great Restaurant! 5 of us went down there after the show at the Moore, which is right acorss the street. Hostess was friendly and the food was outstanding. We shared Apps and drank a couple of bottles of Lucca (Malbec). My steak was cooked to perfection! I will def. be back. Buenos Aires Grill is a great steak house!

Joe

• Pros: Ambeince, Tango Dancing
• Cons: Very Busy, Reservations next time

Write comment on this review